Baloran The 3FX

video upload by Laurent Baloran

"Après avoir sculpté le son dans l’espace avec The 3B, The 3FX explore la création d’espaces sonores capables de transcender tous vos instruments.

After sculpting sound in space with The 3B, The 3FX explores the creation of sound spaces capable of transcending all your instruments."

Also see New VST3 Plugin - The 3FX by Baloran In the Works

via Baloran:

"The psychedelic The 3FX

After sculpting sound in space with The 3B, The 3FX explores the creation of sound spaces capable of transcending all your instruments.

ARCHITECTURE

The heart of The 3FX is built around three fully independent effect voices, each based on a coherent 8-module architecture:

Two delays per voice, usable in series or in parallel
An advanced, progressive feedback path up to controlled self-oscillation
An analog 12 dB/octave multimode VCF (BP, LP, HP) to optionally process the audio spectrum, both on the delay lines and on the dry signal
Independent levels for the dry signal and each delay line
A panorama control to position the voice within the stereo field.
The stereo input signal is distributed across the three voices: left / left + right / right. A mono signal is distributed across all three voices.
Each voice can be used alone, stacked or combined with the others to create textures impossible to achieve with a conventional delay.

MODULATION

Each module of each voice has its own dedicated LFO — a total of 24 LFOs — with a wide palette of waveforms:

classic shapes: sine, triangle, square, ramps
complex shapes: double sine, vintage “tape” warble
MIDI CC modulation, for full integration in studio and live performance.
This modulation is applied to the main parameter of the module: depending on the module concerned, this corresponds to the delay time, the feedback amount, the VCF frequency, the DRY and DELAY levels, or the panorama.

The modules of voices 1 and 3 can be linked to the corresponding module of the central voice, turning The 3FX into a true macro-instrument:

linked modules inherit the settings of the master module
on linked modules, you only adjust the modulation phase offset (0 to 360°)
The 3FX therefore makes it possible to create a tri-chorus even richer than our highly sought-after The Triko.


MACROS

Three macros are available, each able to store up to 24 interactions across the voice settings.

By turning the Macro 1 knob, you can simultaneously move — between a minimum and a maximum value — from 1 to 24 parameters of your sound. The same principle applies to Macro 2 and Macro 3.

This system opens the door to extremely rich interactions between the user and The 3FX, turning complex adjustments into simple and expressive gestures. The macros can be controlled via the most common MIDI expression CCs (expression pedal, breath controller, modulation wheel).


AN ALMOST 100% ANALOG TECHNOLOGY

Routing, filters (VCFs) and amplifiers (output and feedback VCAs) are entirely analog and voltage-controlled, and therefore modulatable by the LFOs.

The six delay lines are based on a hybrid component: the PT2399, often considered one of the most “analog-like” digital circuits.

While the delay itself is generated by an ADC → memory → DAC delta-sigma chain, all surrounding processing remains analog. This component brings its own musicality and characteristic imperfections — which is why it is found in so many boutique effects pedals.


FROM SUBTLE TO EXTREME

The 3FX excels in:

subtle and elegant echoes, choruses and other classics
complex stereo movements and subtle phase relationships
wide, cinematic ambiences
radical, evolving, noisy or self-oscillating textures.

HARDWARE & INTERFACES

The 3FX stands out with a unique silkscreen design in a beautiful metal enclosure.

The enclosure is equipped with the essentials:

external DC power supply (Meanwell)
USB-C
5V Power-USB for the remote controller
MIDI DIN In
2 x 6.35 mm jack inputs with gain control (line → high-impedance guitar)
2 x 6.35 mm jack outputs with level control

SOFTWARE & CONTROL

A modern processor drives the entire system and ensures precise control of the instrument. Several interfaces are available to control The 3FX:

a PC / Mac software application offering a complete view of the three voices
a Wi-Fi web server for control from a tablet or smartphone
a Bluetooth Low Energy remote controller on a transparent stand (“it floats”), featuring a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen and three ergonomic potentiometers
a VST3 plugin for PC and Mac (other formats coming soon)
Updates can also be performed via Wi-Fi through an Internet connection.

Available for sale in early March, preorders open in early February."